Andy Halliday is relishing his return to Europe with Hearts, but admits there’s one potential opponent he wants to avoid.
The versatile midfielder penned a two-year contract extension last season, safe in the knowledge that the Jambos were returning to the continent. Third place combined with a place in the Scottish Cup final meant Robbie Neilson’s team guaranteed themselves group stage football until November. The hope is that it’s in the Europa League, but there’s always the safety net of the Europa Conference League.
Halliday sampled some big nights in the former while playing for Rangers. Euro nights return to Tynecastle for the first time since 2016, when Neilson suffered an embarrassing defeat to Maltese minnows Birkirkara. The Europa League play-off round draw takes place next Tuesday, with the ties to be played on August 18 and 25 respectively. The names Hearts could face include the likes of Fenerbahce and Olympiacos, but there’s one side from his Ibrox days that Halliday would prefer not to see again.
